Loose-leaf book



Nov. 11, 1941. BROOK 2,262,600

LOOSE-LEAF BOOK Filed Feb. 19, 1941 i .1 ay; 1%.; 12 .6

Arlllar EBraolr,

INVENTOR.

BY M M.

v AT 'gguga'v Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF BOOK Arthur F. Brook, Madison, N. J.

Application February 19, 1941, Serial No. 379,571

4 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates to loose leaf books and binders.

Objects of the invention are to provide an inexpensive form of binder construction, which may be readily combined with a cover to form a book and which will have particularly simple and at the same time, entirely practical means for retaining the leaves.

Other desirable objects and the novel features of invention by which the purposes of the invention are attained will appear as the specification proceeds.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates several of the present preferred embodiments of the invention. Structure, however, may be further modified and changed as regards the present disclosure, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 is an inside View of a book embodying features of the invention with the cover fully opened, parts being broken away for purposes of disclosure.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view as on substantially the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with broken lines-indicating the leaves held in the binder.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the book in closed condition.

Fig. 4 is a back view of the book, partly broken away.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views illustrating other forms of releasable closures for the open ends of the binder rings.

The binder rings are formed in the present disclosure by a single length of wire bent in zig-zag fashion to form the parallel strand, loops or ring elements I, connected in spaced parallel relation by the intervening straight connecting portions 8.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the ring elements are substantially C-shaped and with practically flat and straight intermediate portions 9, connecting the rounded end portions.

In the present disclosure, a one piece cover ID, is provided, having a single row of substantially rectangular openings I I, therethrough, said openings individually being of substantially the width of the double strand prongs or rings and the row of such openings, as shown in Fig. 4, being located toward one edge of the back portion I2, of the cover. The binder metal and cover are assembled by passing the rounded tips or points of the binder rings through the openings II, in the back to a fully inserted position like that indicated in Fig. 2, and then bringing the angularly extended ends I3, of the binder wire to the inside of the back as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to lock the parts together. Then the binder wire will be held firmly in the position shown and with only the row of short intermediate connecting portions 8, exposed, at the back edge of the cover.

Various means for closing the open binder rings to retain the sheets in place may be employed.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a single length of wire I4, is used, having a short hook I5 at one end to be caught in the looped end I6, of the twin strand ring element at one end and having a longer and downwardly or backwardly angled hook II, at the opposite end to be caught in the loop I8, of the twin strand ring at the opposite end of the binder. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the downward or backward angling of the hook I'I, locates the point of this longer hook out of the way of the edges of the sheets in turning over from one side to the other and also has a tendency to hold the main reach of the wire up over the outer edges of the binder loops, where as indicated in Fig. 2,

it will block the release of the sheets from the ends of the loops.

The closure wire I4, may be relatively stiff and rigid. The binder wire is sufficiently springy to enable the hooksof the retainer to be readily caught in and released from the ends of the ring tainer wires are employed designated Ma and Nb, embracing or spanning only a few or less than all the binder loops. In the illustration, two short retainers are employed cooperating with end groups of the binder loops and having end hooks I511, I111 and I511, I117 caught in the end loops of such groups.

In Fig. 6, there is shown a full length retainer wire I9, having loops 20, at opposite ends, said loops having angled terminals 2|, bent back over the straight main portion of the wire at points in line with the end binder loops for engagement in the end loops of the double strand rings at the ends of the binder. In this construction, the straight portion of the wire may be'the full length of the sheets, the loops 20, being bent back reversely or inwardly over the straight portion to bring the terminals 2|, into register with the end binder rings.

The retainers shown serve as closures to the open binder rings, securely holding the sheets in position thereon and at the same time, are readily releasable to open up the rings for insertion or removal of sheets. These retainer or closure wires, to an extent, may brace or reinforce the binder structure; but at the same time, they do not impair the desired flexibility of the binder. If required, the binder wire may be reopenings.

The single row of openings may be readily punched in the cover material by doubling back the cover as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2, at the point where the perforations are to be and then simply punching notches in this doubled edge which, when the cover is unfolded will form the desired ring openings.

While shown as a single binder unit, it will be appreciated that two or more binder wire units may be mounted side-by-side in a single cover. Also, while shown mounted in a one piece cover, it is contemplated that thebinder wire may be mounted in other kinds of covers, or for ex ample, be mounted on a backpiece or lining which is to be riveted, glued or otherwise fastened in a cover construction. While the wire makes ,a convenient and practical retainer, other forms may be used, such as a strip of somewhat stiff paper 'or other sheet material perforated for engagement over the ends of the prongs and having bendable tongues projecting into theperforations to enter in between the twin strands of the prongs and engage in the loops at the tips of the prongs, the material being flexible enough to permit the engagement of the strip over and its removal from the prongs.

What is claimed is:

1. A loose leaf book, comprising front and back covers connected by a back and said back having a single row of openings therethrough adjoining one edge of said back, a binder wire of zig-zag formation having loops of doubled wire extended through said openings and substantially straight intermediate connecting portions at the outside of the back and closure means spanning a plurality of the ring forming elements and releasably connected therewith byv portions entered in the looped ends of the doubled ring forming elements.

2. A loose leaf book, comprising front and back covers connected by a back and said back having a single row of openings therethrough adjoining one edge of said back, a binder wire of zig-zag formation having loops of doubled wire extended through said openings and substantially straight intermediate connecting portions at the outside of the back, closure means spanning a plurality of the ring forming elements and releasably connected therewith by portions entered in the looped ends of the doubled ring forming elements, the ends of said binder wire having angled projections disposed at the inside of the back and forming stops preventing withdrawal of the binder wire through the back openings.

3. A loose leaf book, comprising front and back covers connected bya back and said back having a single row of openings therethrough adjoining one edge of said back, a binder wire of zig-zag'formation having loops of doubled wire extended through said openings and substantially straight intermediate connecting portions at the outside of the back and closure means spanning a plurality of the ring forming elements and-releasably connected therewith by portions entered in the looped ends of the doubled ring forming elements and including a length of wire having hooks at opposite ends engageable with the ring forming elements.

4. In combination, a back piece having a row of perforations along one longitudinal edge and a binder wire of zig-zag formation having doubled binder prongs projected through said perforations and connected in substantially parallel relation by intermediate single connecting lengths of wire disposed at the back of said back piece between the perforations and means detachably connected with the doubled prongs for retaining sheets engaged on the prongs.

ARTHUR F. BROOK. 

